AZERBAIJAN

The name comes from Atropates. Is a Greek word transliteration of an ancient Iranian compound name, which means "Protector of Fire " or "The land of fire". This name evolved and modern Persian word can be translated as "The Treasure" or "The Treasurer of Fire". Some interestin facts about Azerbaijan: One of the oldest homes of prehistoric man (Azíj Cave, 20,000 years ago, aproximately), the first school for girls in the Islamic world (Muslim Women School Alejandrina Russia, 1900), the first opera in the Muslim world (1908, Leili and Majnun), first democratic republic in the Muslim East (1918), first parliament in the Muslim East (1919), the first democratic republic the first Muslim country to adopt the Latin alphabet to replace Arabic script, the first in the Islamic world to give women the right to vote (1919).

The Azerbaijan parliament

COUNTRY FACTS:

1) Official name:

2) Location:

Azerbaijan is surrounded by Russia ( to the north ), the Carpian sea ( to the east ), Iran ( to the south ) and Georgia and Armenia ( to the west ). It has an area of 86,600 square kilometers. It is located in Asia ( 40.29ºN and 49.56ºE ). Azerbaijan has two meridians, the 45th and 46th meridians east, and three parallels , the 39th, 40th and the 41st parallels north.

Location in a map

3) The Year Azerbaijan joined the UN:

Azerbaijan joined the United Nations in the 2nd of march of 1992, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations was opened in New York on May 6, 1992. Azerbaijan cooperates with a lots of UN agencies and bodies, for example UNICEF, UNESCO, IAEA, etc,in political, economic, scientific and technical, cultural and humanitarian manners.
On October 24, 2011 Azerbaijan by an absolute majority (129 from 155 votes) won the elections for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council. Azerbaijan has become the first country among the South Caucasus and Central Asia countries elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Over past two years, Azerbaijan has further developed and strengthened its cooperation with the States Members of the United Nations, the UN Secretariat, regional and subregional organizations, civil society and academic circles. Nowadays the representative of Azerbaijan in the UN is H.E.Mr.Yashar T.Aliyev.

4) People

4.1. What are the people of the country called?
The people of the country are called Azerbaijani. The most common male names are Ali, Elchin and Vuqar. The most common females names are Sevinj,Gunel and Leyla.

4.2. What is the official language? What other languages do people speak?
Azerbaijanis are a Turkic-speaking ethnic group, the official name is the Azeri, (89% of the population). Also they speak Russian (3% of the population), Armenian (2% of the population) and English. Azerbaijan and by far is the second-largest ethnic group, they are also referred to them as "Azerbaijani Turks". The 97% of the Azerbaijan population is literacy that makes a 3% that can read or write, in other words they are iliteracy.

4.3. What is the most-practiced religion?
The most practiced religion is the Muslim reigion, with a 93.4%, the Russian Orthodox, with a 2.5%, and the Armenian Orthodox Church, with a 2.3%. Among the Muslim majority, religious observance varies and Muslim identity tends to be based more on culture and ethnicity rather than religion. In article 48 of its Constitution ensures the liberty of worship to everyone.Evertone has a right to choose any faith, to adopt any religion or to not practice any religion, to express one´s view on the religion and to spread it. Also the law of Republic of Azerbaijan (1992) "On freedom of faith" ensures the right of any human being to determine and express his view on religion and to execute this right.

5) Flag

Flag is a state attribute. Each color and symbol on this flag has own meaning:

The idea of tricolor flag was put by Ali bey Huseynzade a idealogists of the Azerbaijani independence. The flag of Azerbaijan constists of three equal wide horizontal stripes. Upper stripe is blue, middle stripe is red and lower stripe is green color. Eight-pointed start and crescent moon of with color had been describe in the middle of the red stripe in the both sides od the flag.
-The blue color: means Turkic origin of Azerbaijani people, is connected with the idea of Turkism, as lots of ancient monumets have been built in the territories settled by Turkish speaking people and the majority of these monuments were in blue.
-The red color: means to build modern society, to develop democracy, in brief modernization and developmemt.
-The green color: it expresses the affiliation to the Islamic civilization, Islam religion.
So in a briefly way, the blue color meaning is the Turkic national culture, the red color meaning is the Muslim civilization and the green color meaning is the modern European democratic bases.
-Crescet moon: once had been coat of arms od the capital of the Byzantine Empire Constantinople. After Turks had captured that city (in 1453) that coat of arms was accpeted by Ottoman Empire as one of the symbols of Islam religion and it passed to another people of the same religion. So in other words is the symbol of the Turkic peole.
-Eight-pointed star: the meaning it is connected with method of writing "Azerbaijan" word in the old alphabet. So, "Azerbaijan" word is written with eight letters in the old alphabet. The meaning of the eight-pointed start in the history is explained as: Turkism, Islamism, Modernity, Statehood, Democracy, Azerbaijanism and Culture.

6) Government

6.1. Is it a democratic or a non-democratic state?
Is a democratic state, is Republic. As the Azerbaijan constitution says it was approved in November 1995 by a referendum. And they got the indepence form the Soviet Union the 30 of August in 1991. The Republic of Azerbaijan was the first seculsr republic in the Muslim world, also was the first Muslim nation to grant woman equal poliyical rights with men. The Azerbaijan was founded by the Azerbaijan National Council in Tiflis on the 28 of May of 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire.

6.2. What is the name of the leader of the country?
The country of Azerbaijan is a presidential republic, with the President of Azerbaijan as the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan as head of government. The current President of Azerbaijan is Ilham Aliyev, since the 31 of October of 2003. The constitution states that the president will be the charge of executive power. The president rules through his office at Presidental Apparatus, consisting of a group of secretaries and departmental ministers, there is a Cabinet od Ministers (regarding economic and social policy) and a Security Council (regarding foreign, military, and judicial matters).





6.3. What type of government is he country ruled by?
The Republic of Azerbaijan is ruled by "New Azerbaijan Party", that is a pluralism party, although their ideology is the Azerbaijan nationalism, Secularism and lawfulness.

6.4. Is the separation of power? Which institution is in charge of the powers?
The government of the Republic of Azerbaijan is organized at the base of principles of separation of power, the Constitution determines that the executive power is held by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the legislative power is carried out by the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the judicial power is held by the independent courts and the legislative power of the Republic of Azerbaijan is held by the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
-The executive power: is held by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Every Person no younger than 35 years old, permanently residing in the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic for more than 10 years, having election right, a University Degree, who has never been tried for a major crime, who has no commitments towards other States, exclusively a citizen of the Azerbaijan Republic shall have the right to be elected President of the Azerbaijan Republic. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan is elected for term of 5 years by general, equal and direct elections by free, private and secret ballots.
-The legislative power of the Republic of Azerbaijan is exercised by single-chamber Milli Majlis (they are 125 deputies). The deputies of Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan are elected on basis of a majority system, and general, equal and direct elections by free, private and secret ballots. Each convocation of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan is elected on the first Sunday of November every five years). Parliament, which is formed through elections by the population of the country.
-The judicial power: power is held by the independent courts, is exercised through civil and criminal courts and by other means determined by the law. Citizens of the Azerbaijan Republic at least 30 years of age, eligible to vote, having higher legal education and at least five years of work as a lawyer may be appointed the judge. Judges are independent and adhere only to the Constitution and the laws of the Azerbaijan Republic and not to be replaced through their term.
Milli Majlis:




6.5. What are the main political parties of the country?
The Republic of Azerbaijan currently accounts for 55 political parties registered by the state. The main political parties are:

• New Azerbaijan Party (Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyası)

Is the ruling political party in Azerbaijan. It was formed on 18 December 1992 by Heydar Aliyev. It is now ruled by his son, Ilham Aliyev, who succeeded his father as the party leader and as President of Azerbaijan since 2003. The party's stated ideologies are lawfulness, secularism and Azerbaijani nationalism. It wants to build a "social-oriented"economy, and lists civil solidarity and socal justice. Elections are every 5 years, and in the last five elections, they have obtained an absolute majority.

• Equality Party (Müsavat Partiyası)

Is the oldest existing political party in Azerbaijan. It was formed in 1911 by Mammed Amin Rasulzade, Abbasgulu Kazimade and Taghi Nagioglu. Now is dosen´t have a leader. The party ideologies are liberalism, national liberalism, social liberalism, Azerbaijani nationalism.

• Azerbaijani Popular Front Party (Azərbaycan Xalq Cəbhəsi Partiyası)

Is an opposition political party in Azerbaijan founded in 1992 by Abulfaz Elchibey. After Elchibey's death in 2000, the party split into two factions, the reform wing led by Ali Kerimli and the classical wing led by Mirmahmud Miralioglu. The Azerbaijani Popular Party is ruled by Ali Karimli and the party ideologies are liberalism, reformism, Azerbaijani nationalism and liberal conservatism.

• Azerbaijan Democratic Party (Azərbaycan Demokrat Partiyası)

Was established on January 26, 1991, by the participants of 27 persons. It is ruled by Sardar Jalaloglu. The party idealogy Conservative Liberal Democracy. In order to prevent the participation of ADP (Azerbaijan Democratic party) in the parliament election, the Ministry of Justice, by political request, cancelled the registration of the party illegally on September 1, 1995. As a result of five years intensive and continues struggle, and by the pressure of international organizations and diplomatic corpus to the government, the Justice Ministry had to reregister ADP again. ADP is a leader and pioneer of integration in the history of Azerbaijan’s political life.

• Motherland Party (Ana Vatan)
  
  

Was established in 1990 by Fəzail Ağamalı. Its membership consists primarily of Azerbaijanis who originate in Armenia but who live in the country as a result of the Karabaskh War. The party's leader Fazail Agamali is a former deputy minister for social protection. The party's goal is to create a free, powerful, democratic and whole Azerbaijan.

• Civic Solidarity Party (Vətəndaş Həmrəyliyi Partiyası)

It was founded the 26 os Septiembre of1992. The party's leader is Sabir Rustamkhanli, who is originally a poet. The party's ideology is based on the universal political values of freedom, equality and solidarity.




6.6. Was your country ever a colony? If so, when did it gain its independece?
The country was colonized by the Russian Empire for 80 years until the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was established in 1918. The Soviets invaded the nation in 1920, and Azerbaijan remained under its rule until 1991, when the Soviet Union finally collapsed.

Russian Empire Soviet Union

7) Population

7.1. How many inhabitamts does the country have?
Since September 1, 2014 the population of the Republic of Azerbaijan reached 9.552.5 million people. For the past 9 months population in Azerbaijan grew 75.4 thousand people or 0,8 percent.53,2 percent of population live in urban areas, while 46,8 percent in rural areas. 49,7 percent of population are males, while 50,3 percent are females.

7.2. Population Density
The 1 January 2015, the population of Azerbaijan was 9 533 713 people. This is an increase of 0.85 % (79 979 people) compared to population of the year before.

Years	Total number of population, thousand person	of which:		Per cen, of total population
		urban places	rural places	urban places	rural places
2000	8 032.8	4107.3	3925.5	51.1	48.9
2001	8 114.3	4149.1	3965.2	51.1	48.9
2002	8 191.4	4192.6	3998.8	51.2	48.8
2003	8 269.2	4237.6	4031.6	51.2	48.8
2004	8 349.1	4358.4	3990.7	52.2	47.8
2005	8 447.4	4 423.4	4024.0	52.4	47.6
2006	8 553.1	4502.4	4050.7	52.6	47.4
2007	8666.1	4564.2	4101.9	52.7	47.3
2008	8779.9	4652.2	4127.7	53.0	47.0
2009	8922.4	4739.1	4183.3	53.1	46.9
2010	8997.6	4774.9	4222.7	53.1	46.9
2011	9111.1	4829.5	4281.6	53.0	47.0
2012	9235.1	4888.7	4346.4	52.9	47.1
2013	9 356.5	4966.2	4390.2	53.1	46.9
2014	9 477.1	5045.4	4431.7	53.2	46.8

We can see in the table that the population is increasen (it pass to have 8.032.8 thousand people in 2000 and in the las years was 9.477.1 thousand people).




7.3. Birth rate. Reasons
Some of the reasons are the childrens that are an economic impulse, as they work soon, also they are expensive to mantain and they have pensions. For these reasons the birth rate is like in the table:

YEARS	PERSON	PER 1000 POPULATION
2000	116.994	14.7
2003	113.467	13.9
2006	148.946	17.5
2009	152.139	17.2
2013	172.671	18.6
2014	141.901	16.9

7.4. Death rate: Reasons
Some of the reasons are the sanitation and health care, chilld mortality, ilnessis,wars and life expentece. For these reasons the death rate is like in the table:

YEARS	PERSON	PER 1000 POPULATION
2000	46.701	5.9
2003	49.001	6.0
2006	52.248	6.2
2009	52.514	5.9
2013	54.383	5.8
2014	-	7.09

7.5. Natural Growth: Reasons
There are more births than deaths, also a result of people living loner and lower infant mortality and migration results in population changes at regional levels. For these reasons the natural growth is like in the table:

YEARS	PERSON	PER 1000 POPULATION
2000	70293	8.8
2003	64466	7.9
2006	96698	11.3
2009	99625	11.3
2013	118.288	12.8

7.6. How do migration affect your country?
State Migration Service is the central executive governmental body with the law-enforcement status that implements the state policy in the sphere of migration and the authorities in the managing and regulation of migration processes according to the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan. By the end of 2004, several thousand Azerbaijan citizens applied for asylum in Western Europe, mainly in Sweden and Germany. As of 2001 there were 148,000 migrants living in Azerbaijan, with less than 1% of these being refugees. However, as of 2004, Azerbaijan hosted 40,267 other refugees and asylum seekers. Most are Azeri refugees from Armenia. In 2005 the net migration rate was estimated as -4.64 migrants per 1000. The government views this migration level as satisfactory.

8) Migration

8.1. Number of immigrants. Where do they come from? Why?
Azerbaijan, with its impressive economic growth, attracts many people from across the globe. Last year, some 424 young foreigners aged between 15-29 immigrated to the oil-rich country along the Caspian seashore. They chose Azerbaijan for permanent residence, regarding it as the best opportunity to build their future lives. They usually come from Russia.
A total of 88 of these immigrants are men and 336 are women according to statistics.

8.2. Number of emigrants. Where do they come from? Why?
Last year the number of immigrants surpassed the number of emigrants leaving Azerbaijan. Some 191 Azerbaijanis including 63 men and 128 women left the country in 2014. The most popular place for Azerbaijani immigrants was Russia. Last year 113 people, among which 43 were men and 70 women, chose Russia for permanent residence.

8.3. Legislation of the country connected to migrations
Azerbaijan have the code, Migration code of the Republic of Azerbaijan includes the Constitution. Migration Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan establishes rules that regulating migration processes and relationships that arise in this area. The article 1 and 2 of the Migration code of the Republic of Azerbaijan sais: migration legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan consists of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, this Code, laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan, international agreements that the Republic of Azerbaijan is a party to and other normative legal acts adopted in compliance with them. Article 2: Migration legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan is based on the principles of respect to human and citizen rights and freedoms, rule of law, equality before the law and impartiality, ensuring compliance of the migration legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan with generally recognized international legal norms, application of innovative methods in regulation of migration processes and ensuring transparency.

8.4. Institution in charge of migrants
State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan is engaged in the issues of extending temporary staying period, granting permission for temporary residence, admission, revocation, restoration of citizenship, as well as determination of citizenship and refugee status, granting work permit to carry out labor activity and extension of the existing work permit, as well as registration of foreigners, fight against illegal migration. Taking all these realities into consideration the President of the Republic has signed a number of orders and decrees to implement complex measures in the field of migration processes regulation upon single state policy.

8.5. Problems connected to migration
Can have positive and negative impacts on both the host (recipient) country, and the original country.

• Immigrants will often do jobs that people in the host country will not, or cannot do;
• Migrant workers often work longer hours and for lower salaries, and while that is controversial, sometimes exploitive, it benefits the host country;
• Immigrants, when made to feel welcome in the host society, can contribute to the diversity of that society, which can help with tolerance and understanding;
• For the host country’s economy, immigrants offer an increased talent pool, if they have been well educated in their original country.

• Immigrants can be exploited for their cheap labor;
• Developing countries may suffer “brain drain” as the limited resources they spend in educating their students amount to very little if that talent is enticed to another country. (The UK for example is often accused of actively hiring medical staff from developing countries. The previous link details this issue further.)
• Immigration can also attract criminal elements, from trafficking in drugs and people to other forms of crime and corruption;
• Immigration can become a social/political issue, where racism can be used to exploit feelings or as an excuse for current woes of local population;
• Where there is a perception that immigrants and refugees appear to get more benefits than local poor people, tensions and hostilities can also rise;
• Concerns about illegal immigration can spill over to ill-feelings towards the majority of immigrants who are law-abiding and contributing to the economy;
• Many die trying to flee their predicament, and this can often make sensational headlines giving the appearance that immigration is largely illegal and “out of control.”

9) Geography

9.1. Where is the country?
Is located in Asia:



9.2. What other nations border the country?
Azerbaijan is surrounded by Russia ( to the north ), the Carpian sea ( to the east ), Iran ( to the south ) and Georgia and Armenia ( to the west )



9.3. What kind of landscape does the country have?
Azerbaijan is characterized by a diversed landscape. There are two major forms of landscape-plains and mountains. Mountains cover 60% of the total area of the Azerbaijan republic. The principle geomorphological structures of Azerbaijan Republic -Major Caucasus, Minor Caucasus (with Garabagh plateau) and Talysh mountains surround the Kur-Araz lowland in the north, west and south-east. Minor Caucasus surrounds the country in the south-west and west and is composed of a number of chains and plateaus with relatively low height. Murovdag, Shahdag and Zangezur are the principal chains of Minor Caucasus. Garabagh plateau, extending from the south of Murovdag up to the river Araz, lies on the cones of extinct vulcanos and quaternary lava. Minor Caucasus is formed by Jurassic and Cretaceous volcanogene and sedimentary rocks.The mountain chains of Major Caucasus are surrounded by foothill areas: a steppe plateau to the north-west, Qobustan to the south-east, Alazan-Ayrichay plain to the south-west and Qusar sloping plain to the north-east. The mountains are formed by less exposed to denudation sinking rocks of Cretaceous and Jurassic periods.Foothills are characterized by badlands and mud volcanos


9.4. What kind of climate does it have?
The climate in Azerbaijan is major influenced by geographical position, landscape and the Caspian Sea. The semidesert and dry, subtropic, temperate and frigid types of climate dominate in the country. It has been determined that Azerbaijan accounts for 8 out of 11 climate zones, existing in the world (by V.V.Keppen). Dry subtropical climate is typical for Kur-Araz lowland and Absheron. Damp subtropic climate is observed only in Talysh mountains, foothills and Lenkeran lowlands. Temperate climate observed the slopes of Major and Minor Caucasus mainly covered with forests is divided into dry, warm-temperate dry, warm-temperate damp and temperate zones. Temperatures reach 25-27C in Aran regions and 5C in mountain regions in July. The absolute maximum is 43C, while the minimum is lower than -30C. This minimal and maximal temperatures have been registered in Nakhichevan lowland and mountains. Precipitation is also not equal across the territory of the country.

10) Economy

10.1 What is the most common sector of employment in the country?
In the industrial sector, the oil, chemical, and textile industries were major employers. One of the main obstacles to job creation in the country is the employment dependency on the agriculture sector. This low-productivity, low-growth sector remains Azerbaijan’s largest employer, absorbing 37 percent of the workforce, but contributing only a little over 5 percent of GDP. Indeed, rural poverty is largely explained by the reliance on subsistence agriculture. The mining sector, on the other hand, is capital-intensive and, despite its contribution to over 40 percent of GDP, does not create many jobs: it employs only about 1 percent of the entire workforce.




10.2. What is the unmployment rate of your country?
The number of those unemployed has decreased by 2.8 percent in Azerbaijan this year. This is year is around 41.9%. Unemployment was reduced to 5.2 percent, and the poverty level decreased to 6 percent last year.




10.3. What is the percentage of contribution of its sectors?

The number of employees in the oil sector amounted to 37,000 people, while those in the non-oil sector - 1.433 million. 1.428 million were employed in the non-agricultural sector. Of those employed, 21.8 percent are involved in the production sector, of whom 6.7 percent are working in construction, 6.1 percent in the processing industry, 2.9 percent in agriculture, forestry and fishery, 2.5 percent in the mining industry, 2.2 percent in the production and distribution of electricity, gas and steam, 1.4 percent in the water, cleaning and recycling fields. In the service sector, 23.2 percent of workers are concentrated in education, 19.1 percent in trade, repair of vehicles, 8.9 percent in the delivery of health and social services, 6.6 percent in public administration, defense and social security, and 4.9 percent in transportation and warehousing. 3.9 percent work in the field of recreation, entertainment and arts, while 3.6 percent are engaged in scientific and technical activities, 1.8 percent in the field of communications, 1.7 percent in finance and insurance, 0.8 percent in real estate operations and rent. 1.6 percent of the total number provide administrative and support services, 1.2 percent are engaged in accommodating tourists and the food service, and 0.9 percent in other areas.


10.4. Energy: production/consumption, exports/imports

• NATURAL GAS:

Today, Azerbaijan has 3.35 trillion cubic meters proven natural gas reserves, and in the upcoming years the country’s reserves are expected to reach to 6 trillion cubic meters with newly-explored fields. Shah Deniz field in the Caspian Sea hosts the most important and largest natural gas deposits of Azerbaijan. Natural gas consumption increases with the growth in Azerbaijan’s economy and the rise in national income. Higher penetration rate and increasing share of natural gas especially in electricity generation have tripled the consumption rate between 2006 and 2008. Natural gas consumption of Azerbaijan peaked in 2012 with 19.15 billion cubic meters/year. Increase in domestic consumption is expected to continue in the upcoming period. Most probably, the volume of natural gas that Turkey imports from Azerbaijan will be higher than 15 billion cubic meters per year after 2030.

• OIL:

Azerbaijan has 7 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. Azerbaijan’s oil exports peaked after Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Oil Pipeline project became operational in 2006, and oil production almost doubled between 2005 and 2007. In 2010, oil exports reached the highest level with 44.5 million tons per year, but then the country experienced a downtrend in exports due to global economic crisis. In the upcoming years, these numbers are expected to rise again with economic recovery and increase in demands.

• ELECTRICITY

Electricity installed capacity of Azerbaijan has started to increase particularly after 2005 and reached to 6,394 MW by the end of 2012 in parallel with the growth in economy and increasing electricity consumption. Azerbaijan’s electricity consumption and exports are likely to increase in the upcoming years, and this increase is expected to boost the installed capacity as well. As the main pillars of Azerbaijan’s economy, oil and natural gas sectors also constitutes the main body of the country’s exports. Oil, natural gas and processed oil and gas products have 95% share in the export items of Azerbaijan. Increasing exports due to the rise in oil and gas production have also led to a greater share of energy in the export mix of Azerbaijan. According to predictions, energy’s share in total exports will continue to increase in the next period.

11) Domestic Policy:

11.1. Which are the current issue that affect your country

• Air Pollution

Issue: Petro-chemical plants, oil refineries and factories especially in Sumgayit and Baku; oil refineries, venting of natural gas from oil wells; burning of untreated garbage; and exhausts from engines.
Concern: Health may be affected especially to the pulmonary, digestive, circulatory, and immune systems. In severe cases, genetic mutation may occur.

• Polluted Drinking Water

Issue: Ground water pollution from oil spillage and leakage from pipeline and storage tanks resulting in petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals and possibly radiation contamination; run off from heavy usage of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture; factory wastes dumped into rivers; salinity of water table due to rise in Caspian Sea and sea water intrusion; rusted water pipes; obsolete and broken equipment in water treatment plants.
Concern: Transmission of bacterial diseases such as cholera and hepatitis; accumulation of heavy metals leading to health complications; cancers.

• Deforestation

Issue: Burning of trees in villages due to Armenian land burning policy in war. Cutting of trees by vast refugee population as wood and kindling are needed as fuel to boil water which is contaminated. Fuel needed to cook the bread, main sustenance in refugee's diet; trees used for heating fuel in cold winters.
Concern: Soil erosion and loss of rich top soil into rivers; change in climatic patterns due to loss of trees which may affect agricultural process; loss of rare plant species; destruction of habitats of bird and animal species; loss of parks and state reserves.


Impact of War

Issue: Due to Armenian land burning policy which has been carried out on 20% of Azerbaijan's territory, total destruction of many homes, schools, businesses, and government buildings. Loss of some of the most productive land in the country; loss of crops such as grapes, cotton and wheat; loss of pasture area for thousands of sheep and cows forcing overpasturing in remaining areas. Loss of therapeutic mineral spas and water; abusive exploitation of mines and forests by Armenians in attempts to make quick profit from natural resources in case they are forced to relinquish Azerbaijani land.


11.2. Which are the main policies about healthcare?
Health care legislation is enacted by both primary and secondary legislation, but active enforcement is not ensured. The Ministry of Health is the body with most influence over health policy-making; other interest groups have little impact. Local authorities have significant responsibilities in the delivery of health services, and some tax-raising powers with relation to local businesses, but the state health system is highly centralized and private service providers are regulated at the national level. As standard, the Health Systems in Transition reports use data available through the European Health for All database; this, in turn, is compiled from data supplied to the World Health Organization (WHO) by national governments using standardized reporting procedures. Where such data are available they have been included below, but there are certain caveats to using data based on official statistics in Azerbaijan, and where necessary, complementary data sources have also been used.


11.3. Which are the main policies about eduction?
The present Law prescribes the basic principles of public policy in ensuring the citizens’ educational rights as established by the Constitution of the Azerbaijan Republic and the general conditions for regulating the educational activities. It sets the foundation for the adoption of corresponding laws and other legislative acts at various levels of education. Secular and continuous in nature, education in the Azerbaijan Republic is a strategically important area of priority, which reflects the interests of citizens, society, and the state. Education in the Azerbaijan Republic is based on the International Conventions on Human Rights, as well as international treaties that the Azerbaijan Republic is party to. It develops through integration into the global education system whilst prioritizing national, moral, and universal values in education system.


11.4. Taxes an other revenues:
Tax revenue (% of GDP) in Azerbaijan was last measured at 12.96 in 2012, according to the World Bank. Tax revenue refers to compulsory transfers to the central government for public purposes. Azerbaijan ranks second among the Central Asian and Eastern European countries for the smallest number of taxes, according to a joint report of the World Bank and the auditing company PwC ".Azerbaijan also ranks eighth in the region for the least time required for payment of taxes (195 hours).Azerbaijan's tax system has passed a thorough process of modernization since technological base of the tax system was established. The system has a wide range of technical capabilities. Today, the country's tax system offers taxpayers most of tax services used in the most advanced countries.The country is in the list of 12 leading countries in terms of the successful use of an electronic registration system of taxpayers, according to the World Bank.The Taxes Ministry provides Azerbaijani population with 59 types of electronic services, which is the widest range of e-services delivered by state agencies.Other special corporate tax regimes. There are other tax regimes applicable under special agreements concluded between the Azerbaijan government and foreign oil companies: production sharing agreements (PSAs) and host government agreements (HGAs). The PSA and HGA regimes apply to all enterprises involved in these agreements, including foreign oil companies functioning as contractors and foreign service companies providing services to the contractor or the operating company. Local income taxes are paid only by companies and organisations that are in the property of municipalities. Tax rates do not exceed 20% for profit taxpayers and 4% for simplified taxpayers.

11.5. Debit:
Azerbaijan recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 13.75 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2013. Government Debt to GDP in Azerbaijan averaged 14.97 percent from 2000 until 2013, reaching an all time high of 24.20 percent in 2001 and a record low of 7.30 percent in 2008. Government Debt to GDP in Azerbaijan is reported by the World Bank.

12) Foreign Policy

12.1. Which are the main current issues that affect your country in foreign policy?

• promotion of the establishment of pluralistic democracy based on market economy and the rule of law;
• conduct of an independent foreign policy aimed at the soonest restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan over its territory;
• elemination of threats and risks to the security, political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan;
• peaceful settlement of the conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan through negotiations within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group on the basis of the principles of the OSCE Lisbon Summit;
• liquidation of the consequences of military aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan;
• development of good-neighbourly and mutually advantageous relations with neighbouring countries;
• promotion of security and stability in the region;
• prevention of illegal arms and other transfers in the region;
• adherence to existing global non-proliferation regimes and establishment of a nuclear-free zone in the Southern Caucasus;
• demilitarization of the Caspian Sea basin;
• integration into European and Transatlantic security and cooperation structures, including NATO, EU, WEU, CE;
• facilitation of the development of development of various sectors of the country’s economy with due consideration of Azerbaijan’s crucial geostrategic location at the crossroads between the East and West;
• development of the Eurasian Transport Corridor of which Azerbaijan is a part.

12.2. Which are the main conflicts that have affected your country?
The conflict between Armenian- Azerbaijan: The beginning, as the Soviet Union was dissolving, ethnic Armenians in Azerbaijan fought a brief conflict, backed by Armenia proper, that resulted in the de facto independence of Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) alongside an agreement what academics have called a frpzen conflict. Then the conflict appear, 2008,the 2008 Mardakert skirmishes began on 4 March after the Armenian election protests. It involved the heaviest fighting between ethnic Armeian and the Azerbaijani. Armenian sources accused Azerbaijan of trying to take advantage of ongoing unrest in Armenia. Azerbaijani sources blamed Armenia, claiming that the Armenian government was trying to divert attention from internal tensions in Armenia.

Following the incident, on March 14 the UN General Assembly by a recorded vote of 39 in favour to 7 against adopted Resolution 62/243, demanding the immediate withdrawal of all Armenian forces from the "occupied territories" of Azerbaijan. And the "fight" continued, they began in 2008 ( 7 years and 9 months).

12.3. Which are the main conflicts that affect your country?

• The conflict with Armenia,

The re-emergence of violence in the late 1980s between ethnic Armenians and Azeris over the long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region erupted into armed conflict in February 1992 between forces from Armenia and Azerbaijan. The armed conflict led to occupation of more than one-seventh of the territory of Azerbaijan, over twenty thousand casualties, massive refugee flows from both sides, and expulsion of ethnic Armenians from Azerbaijan and ethnic Azeris from Armenia.

• The conflict in Afghanistan :

Azerbaijan is engaged in armed conflict in Afghanistan, as part of a UN-authorised, NATO-led mission, the Internation Security Assistance Force. As of May 2012 it contributed 94 troops.

12.4. Military Expenditures/spending on defense programs:

The Azerbaijan Republic had originally formed its own armed forces from 26 June 1918. However these were dissolved after Azerbaijan was absorbed into the Soviet Union as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic from 28 April 1920. After the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991–92 the armed forces were reformed based on Soviet bases and equipment left on Azeri soil. The armed forces have three branches: the Azerbaijani Land Forces, the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force, and the Azerbaijani Navy. Associated forces include the Azerbaijani National Guard, the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan, and the State Border Service, which can be involved in state defense under certain circumstances. The military expenditures of Azerbaijan for 2009 were set at $2.46 billion USD, Ithe defence budget in 2009 was $1.5 billion. Azerbaijan has its own Defense Industry, which manufactures small arms. In the future, Azerbaijan hopes to start building tanks, armored vehicles, military planes and military helicopters. The Ministry of Defence Industry of Azerbaijan directs domestic military supplies for Azerbaijan. It was established in 2005.